WA Market Update – 11/05/2018

Sowing is ticking along in Western Australia with a few nearing completion. Another week of limited rainfall has seen a further switch to cereal plantings rather than canola and/or lupins. With so much dry seeding this season it is likely we will also see weed control being an issue as we move through the season as growers haven’t had an opportunity to get a chemical knockdown before seeding.

Concern around sheep and cattle feed is starting to become apparent. In a lot of areas there is no germination to this point and the ground temperature is getting cooler, therefore feed growth will be slow when it does rain.

The market is providing good pricing opportunities but selling is generally limited because of the weather. Production risk for canola is likely outweighing any price benefit at this stage and feed barley values remain very attractive but again, production risk seems to be limiting sales.